DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Department of Corrections has chosen a new leader for its much criticized parole division.

DOC Executive Director Rick Raemisch announced Monday that Walt Pesterfield will take over parole operations. He replaces Tim Hand, who was fired in June after the March slaying of former DOC Executive Director Tom Clements.

Authorities believe Clements was killed by a parolee who took off his monitoring bracelet.

Clements’ death brought more attention to the department’s parole division and to gaps in the supervision of parolees.

Raemisch has promised a range of reforms at the DOC, including improving how parolees are supervised.

Pesterfield is director of community justice at Oregon’s Columbia County Department of Community Justice. He started his career as a police officer in California.